Revelation 14
November Memory Verse: "Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with them, and they with me." Revelation 3:20 (NIV)
Revelation 14
God cannot let sin go unpunished, and yet He provides opportunities for salvation.
This is a concept I know, but sometimes it is hard to fully grasp. When you read verses 6-7, it says, “Then I saw another angel flying directly overhead, with an eternal gospel to proclaim to those who dwell on the earth, to every nation and tribe and language and people. And he said with a loud voice, ‘Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of judgment has come, and worship him who made the heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water.’” (ESV).
Here is another opportunity for people to repent and believe in the Lord, because right after these verses, we see two warnings of judgment.
I think the reason I cannot fully grasp the concept of providing opportunities of salvation for people who constantly don’t believe is because I would have given up on these people a long time ago. If people constantly went against what I had to say, I wouldn’t desire to have a relationship with them. And yet, people rebel against God daily, but He continues to pursue them and give them opportunities to respond. Opportunities to know Him and have a relationship with Him.
And we see that God is giving them this last chance before the harvest comes, where people will either be gathered by Jesus (v. 14-16) or face the wrath of God (v. 17-20).
This should serve as a reminder to us to never give up on people that we share the Gospel with. Just because they don’t respond in the way we might want them to, doesn’t mean we quit. God doesn’t give up on them, and neither should we.
How are you encouraged by Revelation 14?
By: Brice Stockton
Revelation 14
God cannot let sin go unpunished, and yet He provides opportunities for salvation.
This is a concept I know, but sometimes it is hard to fully grasp. When you read verses 6-7, it says, “Then I saw another angel flying directly overhead, with an eternal gospel to proclaim to those who dwell on the earth, to every nation and tribe and language and people. And he said with a loud voice, ‘Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of judgment has come, and worship him who made the heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water.’” (ESV).
Here is another opportunity for people to repent and believe in the Lord, because right after these verses, we see two warnings of judgment.
I think the reason I cannot fully grasp the concept of providing opportunities of salvation for people who constantly don’t believe is because I would have given up on these people a long time ago. If people constantly went against what I had to say, I wouldn’t desire to have a relationship with them. And yet, people rebel against God daily, but He continues to pursue them and give them opportunities to respond. Opportunities to know Him and have a relationship with Him.
And we see that God is giving them this last chance before the harvest comes, where people will either be gathered by Jesus (v. 14-16) or face the wrath of God (v. 17-20).
This should serve as a reminder to us to never give up on people that we share the Gospel with. Just because they don’t respond in the way we might want them to, doesn’t mean we quit. God doesn’t give up on them, and neither should we.
How are you encouraged by Revelation 14?
By: Brice Stockton
3 Comments
Encouraged in the same manner Brice…A forgiving God who wishes for all to repent and find freedom through faith. Thinking of the various religions recently and that we in fact serve a living God that extends grace and mercy and how that must just fly in the face of those works based religions and I’m so grateful…
Thanks for the encouraging word today Brice! I have been a father for almost 30 years. Parenting is a job that expands the Christian's understanding of God's amazing love, forgiveness, and intense desire to look after the welfare of His children. I'm sure I disappointed my parents many times, especially in the teenage years, but they never stopped loving or pursuing me. If sinful men and women feel this way toward their children imagine how much more God, who created us in our mother's womb, desires to save us from our sin. He loved us so much He died for us. I'm grateful that we serve a God who relentlessly pursues His children when most of us would have given up.
What a great reminder of the patience of God! I need this today. A lot of times all we can do is try; and there’s no guarantee of success, especially if anyone else is involved. Like in parenting, when we try so hard to love our kids & teach them good things - but the “success” of helping them have a good & happy life in Jesus is kind of outside our control; since after all, they have to choose it for themselves. And God knows more than we do about the perfect timing for everything. So it becomes necessary to learn how to trust & be patient through all the hard times. Easier said than done. But I guess, maybe a successful day is one where we show up & try with a heart full of the Spirit’s fruit…. Thanks for this reminder that even God doesn’t count success by outcomes but just by doing His part well.